Wow! love that crab! Are you a 'foodie' by any chance :D ? First class photography. Thanks

Terrific photos - love all the food shots! Do you mind sharing how much some of these meals, particularly the one in Kobe, set you back? (Brad would be right there with you enjoying the unagi!)

Masaki, your picutres and comments make me feel like I'm traveling along with you. Thanks for the tour. I can't wait for the next installment.

Masaki,
I am loving the tour! Eagerly awaiting the next installment. Thanks!!!!!

Beth - your wish is my command - pictures coming up momentarily

J&K - thanks for following along!

Suzie - what gave it away?? :D

Leslie - the Kobe dinner set was based on the weight of the steak. My set came with a 150 gm steak and was 6500 yen - about $56. Amanda's set (and my cousin's set) was based on a 100 gm steak and was 5600 yen. Very reasonable. Another place I was looking at was charging 15,000 yen for a 150 gm steak set so I guess price is quite variable. The unagi set from lunch was 3200 yen - about $28. The okonomiyaki lunch that we had previously was about $5 each so everything that you eat in Japan doesn't HAVE to be expensive. We're just going all out. ;)

Donna, Betty K - thanks! Coming up right now!

Masaki

So tonight, we decide that we're going to have sushi for dinner. I'm checking my guidebooks for suggestions and come across a little place where the owner is particularly picky about his tuna - Shin-Akashi Sushi. He generally has 5 varieties of tuna in stock each night and offers toro (fatty tuna) from them on a nightly basis. This has my attention since toro is one of my favorite things to eat. Kind of the fish version of Kobe beef. :)

So I call to make the reservation and we're set for 7 PM. We set out around 6:30 PM as the light darkens and the city streets start to come to life. We manage to get lost a little (missed one traffic light that I was using to keep track of how many more streets we had to go) and arrive at the store just at 7 PM.



We get seated immediately after being asked whether we were smoking or non-smoking (it apparently made a difference to them even though the counter only had enough space for 14 people). We get seated RIGHT in front of the toro case.



So I'm immediately drooling at the possibilities. Tonight's tuna are quite the international cast. We have tuna from Miyagi Prefecture in Japan, from Ooshima island in Japan, from off the coast of Ireland, from Port Lincoln from Australia, and from the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain. They ask us what we want - we stare at each other blankly. Sensing our indecision, they ask whether we'd like to leave it to them to pick the best of tonight's options. We of course jump at this and leave it to their capable hands ("omakase" for those of you that are sushi lovers).

Just to warn you, I don't have pictures of most of the stuff that came out because I was too busy enjoying it all. :D Some of the sushi I had never had before or never had had it so fresh before and needless to say, it was all quite good. Sayori (halfbeak) and the tai (snapper) were some of our favorites along with the akagai (red clam). However, the winners were the uni (sea urchin) - they brought out 3 varieties from 3 different parts of Japan and you could distinctly taste the difference between all 3. And of course, the toro - they brought out all 5 varieties for us to try. This resulted in the one and only other picture from this dinner.



It was just too pretty to NOT take a picture. For those of you wondering, the toro pieces are arranged in the order of the list above from right to left. My favorite was the Spanish toro (far left) - fatty with a freshness resembling the ocean and a strong sweetness to it. Amanda's favorite was the Miyagi prefecture toro (far right) - a more creamy tasting fattiness with a subtle sweetness to it. I asked the master chef which one was his favorite - he tells me the Miyagi prefecture toro. He tells me that "young people" like the Spanish one though - that's a point in my favor! The Miyagi toro is the most expensive of all 5 and is a favorite of women.

We end with a piece of gyoku (egg omelet). Many people say that this is a true test of a sushi chef - how well can you make the gyoku since most things in sushi are actually not cooked. Bad gyoku will be bland and be dense like a bad omelet. This was definitely not that - fluffy, airy, and melted in our mouths - good balance between salt, sugar, and the dashi (bonito broth).

Sated from yet another amazing meal, we stumble out into the night. Two incredible meals in the same day - aren't WE feeling spoiled!

(to be continued)

Masaki

(continued)

We spend some time wandering around the area a little before heading back - this is definitely the drinking part of town. Lots of bars, clubs, and small little restaurants abound along with some big parking garages. A few stores are scattered here and there and one of them draws our eyes.



It's a kimono store offering complete sets of kimonos for 26,000 yen each which is really not bad. Amanda isn't so much in favor of the idea of figuring out how to get one home though and besides, they're closed. We move on.

We pass by a street vendor selling crepes. Hey, didn't we just eat? Nah, that's already like 15 minutes ago!



A lot of varieties of crepes - most of them dessert. A few savory crepes are located at the bottom of the display case. We end up getting the dessert crepe with the chocolate ice cream and bananas and split it (get it?).



Then we head back towards our hotel and the Dotonbori area to see what the lights look like.

(to be continued)

Masaki

Masaki, I am pleased that you haven't gone hungry while you are away from home ;) I am so enjoying your reports, what a great read with my coffee!

From one foodie to another, thankyou for the wonderful tour of Japans finest. I really feel that I'm right there with you and now can't wait to visit Japan. Please keep these fascinating reports and marvelous pictures coming....I am sooo looking forward to the rest of your trip.

All these reports are wonderful! Oh, to be with all of you - and you haven't even boarded the ship yet. This will be One Fine Trip! Keep the seamail and photos coming.

This is better than ANY travel magazine...you are amazing, Masaki!!! :app:

Masaki - Thanks so much for sharing your travels (and incredible food!) with us. I feel like I'm vacationing along with you - though it's 9AM and I'm already hungry!

(continued)

As we head over the bridge over the Dotonbori River and head into the district itself, this is the first thing that we see (besides the hordes of crowds)



Kind of like Times Square but with magical mushrooms enhancing the experience



Our friend, the crab, from earlier today. Looks even more impressive when he's all lit up.



And the same streets as before filled with people and now with the neon on





Did I ever mention that Amanda's a sucker for dachshunds? This is the only reason why this picture exists.



We finally turn away from Dotonbori and head back towards the hotel. This is a night shot of the Takashimaya Department Store which is located right next to our hotel. The lights you see in the background are the hotel.



We know that Sheri's supposed to be checking in tonight late so we drop by the front desk to leave her a message (we end up leaving her a voice message on her room phone) and head up to our room to hit the sack.

Tomorrow, the Mariner!

Masaki

Masaki, all I can say is WHOW!!!! Thanks for the wonderful photos and sharing your pre-cruise with us from Osaka and Kobe.

Nancy

Oh, these are terrific, Masaki!! Love the fact that your photos make us feel like we're there! All very interesting. Thanks for doing this. We are having so much fun awaiting your next batch each day, and now smiling, ESPECIALLY over THE DACHSHUND!! High fives to you for taking that photo - We join Amanda in our love for them - as I sit here with my 15 yr. old "Duncan-the dachshund" on my lap!! :) (cool food, cool dog, cool toilet! I love Japan.)

Awesome reporting and photos, M!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks again and again and again M!!!!

Those are incredible pictures!

FTR, we looked at TOTO bathroom fixtures at one fixture showroom, and we weren't shown anything that looked like that marvel of the bathroom! Just regular old toilets.

Amazing Masaki! All I can say again is WOW!!! You guys have had the best time and done so much that you have shared with your pictures, I feel like we are right there with you. WOW WOW and WOW!

Have a great time onboard, sure you are looking forward to getting on the Mariner.

Masaki, we're just LOVING your reports and great pictures! We just can't get enough. Thanks for taking us with you on your adventures.

What great and fun pics Masaki - thanks much!

More fantastic pix and reporting from you, Masaki! Thanks! Keep 'em coming, please!

Off to check out and to hoist ourselves to the ship. Further reporting from the Mariner!

Masaki

Can hardly wait M - :app: :lct:

Looking forward to much more; it's great!!

Thank you! It doesn't replace being with you...but helps ease the pain...wish we could enjoy yours and Amanda's company. Big hugs!

I am really looking forward to our Jimmy Olsen reporting from the ship! Everyone should be onboard by now, let the fun begin!